"raven's Offense To Test Our Defense"

[svt2nv04]

http://www.panthersfanz.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18608

I was just curious to know what some of the Panters fans thought of the Ravens. I am actually kind of surprised at how well we're being talked about. Some are saying we're the team to beat in the AFC, etc. A lot of them saw us in the Jets game where we did pretty well.

Some of the posts:

"After seeing the Monday night game, I realized that Joe Flacco is an amazing quarterback and has a great O-Line. Ray Rice is very good too. Our defense will finally be put to the test with 3 quarters against them and I'm very excited to see where we're at, whether or not we really are going to suck this year on defense"

"Baltimore did make it to the AFC title, so we can only take so much from this game. but after watching that game last night, our defense will be tested for sure."

"I wish we had a D like the Ravens D. They are so unpredictable and aggressive. It is alot of fun to watch even if you are not a Ravens fan."

and more...

Not only from that thread but from other sources, it seems that a lot of people are paying attention to the Ravens. It seems there are more and more articles on NFL.com and foxsports.com, etc. about the Ravens, mostly good. There's a lot of talk about Flacco, our running game, and of course our defense.

There was another thread I found from another panthers forum where fans were praising the Ravens for finally looking like a complete team and also saying we're likely the team to beat in the AFC.

Just thought I'd share. I was just kind of surprised by it I guess.

[FlaccoFlicker]

Me and my buddy are opposites in the fact that his fav team is the panthers mine is the ravens but it's reversed as his fav afc team is the ravens and my fav nfc team is the panthers.
a few panther fans i met have also commented on saying how they wish they had a defense like baltimore.
Carolina has a great running game so that will be a nice look for the people who says our run defense has looked a lil off.Dont think we'll have steve smith to worry about tho that woulda been a nice test for our secondary.

[Purple Nurple]

Wow. They were really giving us some props......

[SaVaGe]

I'm looking for there run offense to test our Run D this week. They better come full force.

[Sizzle]

The question for us should be "Can we stop Deangelo Williams?" After Leon Washington ran all over us our defense needs to prove they can still stop the run.

[SaVaGe]

[quote name='Sizzle' date='29 August 2009 - 10:10 AM' timestamp='1251555022' post='226186']
The question for us should be "Can we stop Deangelo Williams?" After Leon Washington ran all over us our defense needs to prove they can still stop the run.
[/quote]

Williams(18 TDS) and Stewart(10 TDS)

[BloodRaven]

Its seriously nice to be respected for once. Flacco the next Troy Aikman? thats a nice thought

Good job on the Panthers fans for being humble though, considering they have an absolute powerhouse run unit and the best young MLB in the game.

[RoflDogs]

A year ago, you would be totally humiliated if you said those kind of things

[robermar]

[quote name='Sizzle' date='29 August 2009 - 10:10 AM' timestamp='1251555022' post='226186']
The question for us should be "Can we stop Deangelo Williams?" After Leon Washington ran all over us our defense needs to prove they can still stop the run.
[/quote]

From what I read, Williams is a game time decision and may not play. and, they have also declared Stewart out already. So, not sure if tonight will be a good test since both their starting RB's will probably not play. Steve Smith is supposed to play his first pre season game tonight though.
[url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AnGGBV3ps4zYuR1vXwPe0et92bYF?slug=ap-ravens-panthers-rdp&prov=ap&type=lgns"]http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AnGGBV3ps4zYuR1vXwPe0et92bYF?slug=ap-ravens-panthers-rdp&prov=ap&type=lgns[/url]

[MKdave]

[quote name='robermar' date='29 August 2009 - 03:33 PM' timestamp='1251556407' post='226194']
From what I read, Williams is a game time decision and may not play. and, they have also declared Stewart out already. So, not sure if tonight will be a good test since both their starting RB's will probably not play. Steve Smith is supposed to play his first pre season game tonight though.
[url="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AnGGBV3ps4zYuR1vXwPe0et92bYF?slug=ap-ravens-panthers-rdp&prov=ap&type=lgns"]http://sports.yahoo....ov=ap&type=lgns[/url]
[/quote]

If Steve Smith hurts us that's a major concern. Our corners have got the legs to match up with Smith, it's the bigger guys that figure to cause us problems. If we can't stop the burners who can we stop?

[flynismo]

[quote name='MKdave' date='29 August 2009 - 10:55 AM' timestamp='1251557754' post='226201']
If Steve Smith hurts us that's a major concern. Our corners have got the legs to match up with Smith, it's the bigger guys that figure to cause us problems. If we can't stop the burners who can we stop?
[/quote]

But speed is only a small part of Smith's game. We only see that aspect of him after he beats his way through triple coverage and pulls the ball out of the DB's hands. Steve Smith can make the game's elite CB's look silly.

[YYZ66]

Kind of amazing that there's so much Flacco bashing going on. The one guy said he doesn't have that strong of an arm. Yeah right, Joe can throw a golf ball through the side of a battleship, that's not a very strong arm, is it? "I don't see what Jaws sees in him". Wow, just more people that Joe will have to prove wrong this year.
I hope Smith does play. Great test for the secondary. I wonder if Walker will be covering him?

[archraven]

yea..the panthers starting NT is out for the year. beason prob will not play..we prob will run right threw them

[Ed_Reed20]

I'm really looking forward to tonight's game. Carolina has a lot of good players on both sides of the ball and could challenge the Ravens more than the Jets did.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='flynismo' date='29 August 2009 - 11:23 AM' timestamp='1251559389' post='226206']
But speed is only a small part of Smith's game. We only see that aspect of him after he beats his way through triple coverage and pulls the ball out of the DB's hands. Steve Smith can make the game's elite CB's look silly.
[/quote]

I agree. For someone his size, Smith is very strong and muscles corners at times. I hope he doesn't play but if he does, it'll be interesting to see how he does against Foxworth or Washington.

[Ravensfan23]

it's a good thing to have other fans respecting your offense. They seems to be concerned after the Monday nght game. The thing that gets me pumped, is that we missed about 3-4 plays, so we still have so much growing to do.

As far as the Flacco bashing, people will do that no matter how good your QB is. I mean people still bash Payton and Tom so it will never stop. However i think it's good to see people bashing your QB for being overhyped instead of laughing at your QB situation. In years past, other fans would see Kyle Boller on the injury report, and actually starting praying that he would be healhty enough to play. So now when i hear the Flacco bashing i just laugh.

There fans seem a little concerned about their defense. I guess that is normal this time of year. I think they are a quality team and this will be just as much of a test for us as it is for them.

[flynismo]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='29 August 2009 - 12:52 PM' timestamp='1251564725' post='226219']
I agree. For someone his size, Smith is very strong and muscles corners at times. I hope he doesn't play but if he does, it'll be interesting to see how he does against Foxworth or Washington.
[/quote]


I'm hoping he does play, and lines up against Foxworth. I'm not too concerned about Fabian, I think his coverage skills are fantastic; at times he was absolutely dominant last year. Fox is the wildcard. He has the physical tools, but I suspect he will be inconsistent this year. I want him to get his screw ups out of the way now and learn on the fly "off the clock", when it doesnt matter if Smith tears him apart.

[Ravenite]

I think this would be Steve Smith's first game back... depends on his shoulder...

[Ravens Lover]

If we can stop Williams and Smith and not turn the ball over I think we have a shot at winning.

[edreedfromtheu]

I can't believe someone actually said that the Ravens run defense needs to prove anything. HA HA HA!

negative 50 cool points for you!


And ummm, Steve Smith will kill the Ravens corners. But hopefully the pass rush demolishes Jake Delhomme before he has a chance to get off a good throw. Our corners do NOT have the legs to keep up with Smith. In fact, no corners do. That's why the only way they stop him is when they do what Seattle did years ago in the playoffs and just put your entire defensive backfield on Smith. He still hurt them by going in on kick returns. But they couldn't do much on offense because they had nobody else.

[reediddy]

Panthers seem like they will be pretty decent this year, I think easily winning their division with the defenseless Saints and offenseless Bucs, edging out the Falcons. Good young defense (Kemoeatu haha remember him?) with Beason, Thomas Davis, solid secondary, awesome running game and ridiculous OL, good enough passing game, Dwayne Jarrett might actually emerge this year. So this will be a good test for the Ravens, especially the defense (if the RBs play). This is where we find out if our secondary is as good as we think, or still has a lot of work required.

[Ravenite]

[quote name='edreedfromtheu' date='29 August 2009 - 12:45 PM' timestamp='1251567959' post='226230']
I can't believe someone actually said that the Ravens run defense needs to prove anything. HA HA HA!

negative 50 cool points for you!


And ummm, Steve Smith will kill the Ravens corners. But hopefully the pass rush demolishes Jake Delhomme before he has a chance to get off a good throw. Our corners do NOT have the legs to keep up with Smith. In fact, no corners do. That's why the only way they stop him is when they do what Seattle did years ago in the playoffs and just put your entire defensive backfield on Smith. He still hurt them by going in on kick returns. But they couldn't do much on offense because they had nobody else.
[/quote]

it's funny how in my fantasy league no one picked him up and I got Larry Fitz as my first pick and when my pick came up, it had to be Steve Smith. When doesn't the dude produce?

[ravensfan2430]

Carolina has a solid team. I like their passing game. To me they dont blow you away with it but smith always seems to have a higlight each week.

[MKdave]

[quote name='flynismo' date='29 August 2009 - 04:23 PM' timestamp='1251559389' post='226206']
But speed is only a small part of Smith's game. We only see that aspect of him after he beats his way through triple coverage and pulls the ball out of the DB's hands. Steve Smith can make the game's elite CB's look silly.
[/quote]
But I mean, of the elite recievers, we match up better with Smith than say, Fitz or Moss.

[J-man]

Respect.

[tyronebiggums]

carolina easily has the nicest fans. must have a lot of clemson fans in that fan base.

[archraven]

from Gantt panthers writer..looks like steve smith will not play.
[quote]WR Steve Smith and LB Thomas Davis are out in uniform for warm-ups, but they're not really running the plays. Figure they're off tonight[/quote]
http://twitter.com/daringantt/statuses/3634594323

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

If Williams and Beason are out (we already know DT Ma'ake Kemoeatu is), then you would hope we dominate. As Bloodraen alluded to, Beason is a fantastic up and coming MLB, him and Willis are freaks.

Don't sleep on the run game if Williams and Stewart are out, Mike Goodson has looked very sharp in preseason for them and is a threat to catch passes out of the backfield.

[MagicianCamille]

Their Defense failed the test.

[Fred Sanford]

Heh, yep. That looked like a practice squad defense. Our own penalties did more to stop us than anything they did.